Oxygen mixing in a blower-based ventilator
AssigneeRespironics, Inc.
InventorsBernie F. Hete, James D. Srock
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An oxygen mixing arrangement for or in a pressure support ventilator, in which a modular oxygen-providing assembly is selectively insertable into a greater respiration apparatus. Mixing accuracy and controllability is maintained by using gas supplies that have a wide range of pressures. Further, oxygen leakage is minimized by connecting the modular oxygen-providing assembly at a point of the respiration circuit of the greater respiration apparatus that is downstream from a valving arrangement normally used for venting patient exhaust flow and for controlling system pressure by venting excess gas flow to the ambient atmosphere.
Claims20
Apparatus for delivering pressurized gas to the airway of a patient, said apparatus comprising:
- gas flow generator means for providing a flow of said gas;
- conduit means for delivery of said gas flow to the airway of the patient;
- said conduit means comprising at least one primary conduit portion for carrying a primary flow of said gas towards the airway of said patient;
- means for providing supplemental oxygen to the patient concomitantly with the provision of the primary flow of said gas to the patient;
- said means for providing supplemental oxygen comprising:
- means for introducing a flow of supplemental oxygen into said at least one primary conduit portion of said apparatus;
- means for metering the flow of supplemental oxygen into said at least one primary conduit portion of said apparatus;
- said metering means comprising means for regulating the flow of supplemental oxygen into said at least one primary conduit portion of said apparatus as a function of at least one of:
- the magnitude of said primary flow in said at least one main conduit portion;
- and
- the direction of said primary flow in said at least one main conduit portion.
Method of controlling the pressure of gas flow delivered to the airway of a patient in apparatus for delivering pressurized gas to the airway of a patient, such apparatus comprising gas flow generator means for providing a flow of gas and conduit means for delivery of said gas flow to the airway of the patient;
- said method comprising the steps of:
- carrying, in said conduit means, a primary flow of said gas towards the airway of said patient;
- providing supplemental oxygen to the patient concomitantly with the provision of the primary flow of said gas to the patient;
- said step of providing supplemental oxygen comprising the steps of:
- introducing a flow of supplemental oxygen into said at least one primary conduit portion of said apparatus;
- metering the flow of supplemental oxygen into said at least one primary conduit portion of said apparatus;
- said metering step comprising the step of regulating the flow of supplemental oxygen into
- said at least one primary conduit portion of said apparatus as a function of at least one of:
- the magnitude of said primary flow in said at least one main conduit portion;
- and
- the direction of said primary flow in said at least one main conduit portion.
Modular apparatus for delivering pressurized gas to the airway of a patient, said apparatus comprising:
- at least one first modular section comprising:
- gas flow generator means for providing a flow of said gas;
- and
- conduit means for delivery of said gas flow to the airway of the patient;
- said conduit means comprising at least one primary conduit portion for carrying a primary flow of said gas towards the airway of said patient;
- at least one second modular section comprising:
- means for providing supplemental oxygen to the patient concomitantly with the provision of the primary flow of said gas to the patient;
- said means for providing supplemental oxygen comprising:
- means for introducing a flow of supplemental oxygen into said at least one primary conduit portion of said apparatus;
- and
- means for metering the flow of supplemental oxygen into said at least one primary conduit portion of said apparatus;
- wherein at least one of:
- said at least one first modular section;
- and
- said at least one second modular section;
- comprises two or more interchangeable modular sections, to permit the selective assembly of at least two different apparatus for delivering pressurized gas to the airway of a patient.
Apparatus for delivering pressurized gas to the airway of a patient, said apparatus comprising:
- gas flow generator means for providing a flow of said gas;
- conduit means for delivery of said gas flow to the airway of the patient;
- means for providing a supplemental gas to the patient concomitantly with the provision of said gas flow to the patient;
- said means for providing a supplemental gas comprising means for regulating the flow of supplemental gas as a function of at least one of:
- the magnitude of the gas flow provided by said gas flow Generator means and the direction of the gas flow provided by said gas flow generator means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.